Christopher and Brendon drop off the truck to Comely, yelling as he is leaving Chris lets the Comely guys know "You can thank Tony Soprano." Junior and Mikey Palmice are having dinner, Mikey relays to Junior that the Comely guys wanted to say thank Tony and if he needs anything to give him a call. This incenses Junior "Tony? The fuckin' junkie fucks they work for Tony, they hijack Comely's truck I get it back and old man Comely's fucking thanking Tony? Mikey offers up his point of view "I think you shoulda taken care of this Christopher Moltisanti thing the minute it first happened. You shoulda sent a clear-cut signal so they know you fuck with Junior Soprano..." Junior rejects this "Take it easy, we're not making a western here. Fuckin' family, I bought his kid a $400 surfboard for his birthday." A painting hangs in the waiting room to Dr. Melfi's office, Tony stares at it until the office door opens and Melfi welcomes him inside. Tony asks as soon as they sit down "What's that a trick picture out there? The barn and the old tree rotten out inside. That is a special made psychological picture like that uh..what do you call it test? The Corscach?" Melfi doesn't correct him on the name of the test and asks what the picture means to him. "It says hey asshole we're from Harvard and what do you think of this spooky depressing barn and this rotted out tree we put here." Melfi asks "It's depressing and scary to you?" "Not to me, but it's got that built right into it." Melfi asks Tony "How are things" and Tony relates that it's been a good week for him but that Jackie is in the hospital with cancer. Melfi sounds concerned. Jackie is in a hospital bed and Mike Palmice is visiting him checking his IV bag, talking about other men he knows who have cancer. Tony arrives with Paulie, Hesh, and Silvio(Steve Van Zandt) they say hello to Mikey. Mikey leaves, Jackie asks Mikey to give Junior his love. A hassidic jew named Titleman(Chuck Low) comes up in discussion who is seeking Tony and his associates help with a "get" in the form of a divorce for his daughter, they leave as Jackie lets them know he's getting sleepy.
Meadow and Hunter leave chorus practice exhausted from studying for the SAT's, longing for the campus of Berkley, remarking that they'll just have to not sleep until they make it. Tony and Carmela visit Artie Buco and his wife Charmane at their new house, Arite lets Tony know that the insurance money hasn't come through yet because the insurance company is doing a 2nd Arson investigation. They head inside for a beer. Tony is meeting with Sid Titleman. He states his daughter is being abused by her husband(Ned Eisenberg), and mocking their laws of marriage. Tony offers his help. Sid's son protests this and he is chastized by his father. Silvio mentions that the Jewish muscle for hire groups have been put out of business by the DA's office. Tony asks for 25% of their business, his son states he doesn't understand and then in Hebrew that if you do business with these people you'll never get them out, and that he's creating a Golem or monster. Silvio and Paulie visit Ariel, the son in law in question. A banter starts that foreshadows the difficult nature ahead. Paulie asks "Are you Ariel"? he responds "That depends, are you a bill collector?" joking. Paulie says "What is this the catskills, Shaggy Green we got here." Silvio states "We want to talk to you about your father in law." Ariel lets them know he's not there. "We know he's not here but uh, we want to talk to you about him and you and him and this little problem you're having." Ariel says "Look, I don't know who you are but any problem I may or may not be having with my family is none of your matter, so get out of here." Ariel goes on to say that they don't understand what's going on and that he sweat blood into the place and deserves a fair piece. Paulie and Silvio slam Ariel's head down on the counter and beat him with the service bell, after he refuses to give a divorce, which offers a little bit of comedy into a scene of violence and intimidation. At the Soprano house Meadow and Hunter are trying to score some crystal meth so they can stay up to continue studying for the SAT's. Charmane comes over to Carmela's house the next day as she is criticizing her polish houeskeeper wanting the windows to sparkle. Meadow and Hunter comes over to Christopher's apartment to ask if he can get them crystal meth. Christopher says "What do you want Meadow?" "Forget about it, no fucking way." Chris responds. They leave empty handed but threaten to get what they are seeking at a less reputable place. Chris says it's a ploy so that he'll give her drugs. Brendon remarks "Kids. You think you can protect them, but you can't."
Jackie is sitting up in bed as Tony comes in to visit him. He's brought in a stripper dressed as a nurse and Jackie doesn't realize it until the real nurse almost comes in until Tony pays her off at the door. Leading to a big laugh scene for all involved, good to see some enthusiastic joy for a man diagnosed with cancer. Tony remarks just before the realization "Look at these flowers, nobody sends flowers like New York." Referencing the very real mob world around them. Tony in therapy, tells Melfi about the stripper. Remarking it was nice of him. Tony asks what she thinks about his cancer diagnosis, in the intestines with a removed tumor. Tony lets her know it's next to something vital. She remarks "I see." Tony asks "You see?" Clearly upset. Melfi offers "From what you're telling me it doesn't sound very good." Tony snaps "From what I'm telling you. Well, what the fuck do I know I'm not a doctor." Melfi observes "You're angry, who with?" Tony responds "Let me tell you something. This man has had chemo every day for three fuckin' weeks and he still has every last hair on his head. Every last hair on his head. And he's got a beautiful head of hair. So don't tell me about how it sounds, cause you don't know him, you don't know me, and you don't know what the fuck you're talking about." Melfi tries to reason with him that "What's happening is we're getting closer to you confronting your true feelings about what's really going on here. The tree in the painting? Rotted out, you said. There's nothing in the picture to indicate that." Tony remarks "The fucking painting...I knew that was a fucking scam, I knew that painting was a fuckin scam." Melfi says "You remember your dream, the ducks? It took on another meaning. What happens to a tree that's rotted out?" This seems to send Tony over the edge unable to stay with the Dr's questioning. "Trees, ducks, what the fuck are you Ranger Rick? I tell you something some job you shrinks got you think everyone's lying to you while you're pulling scams on them, fuck you!" Tony storms out and leaves the office. This goes along with the other commentary and symbolism that Tony Soprano conscious of it or not sees the end coming, for his family, for his associates and their "thing", for himself being on top. He is having trouble acknowledging what we all must come to accept in time. This is further illuminated with his upcoming scene with Ariel.
Carmela is confirming parties for the silent auction they are hosting at their house, upstairs Meadow is getting Crystal Meth from Christopher. We see 90's era band posters on Meadow's walls, a nice touch. Arite and Charmane are arguing about having Tony Soprano as a business partner for a new restaurant, Charmane advises against it because what it would mean for them. At the Soprano house that evening for the party Carmela is entertaining a guest who hasn't eaten and Charmane who is there to help out is called over by Carmela which harkens back to earlier when she was signaling the help for crystal clear glass. We can see from the filmed perspective how much Charmane sees this behavior by Carmela as condescending almost classist behavior. Carmela probably unaware that she was doing anything but attempting to run a fundraiser function is blind to it. Arite in the kitchen when Tony walks in, goes on about how much he misses his restaurant until Tony tells him to stop complaining and focus on the positive. Knowing how guilty he must feel. Artie in a fit of anger throws some Cappicola at Tony hanging off his brow and it results in an all out food fight between old friends. A warm scene. Silvio an Paulie have kidnapped Ariel and brought him to a windowless room. They threaten him with his life or to sign for a divorce. He somehow physically resists both of them, but is finally knocked down by Silvio with a Mallet. They call Tony for his help, since Ariel won't sign for the divorce. Tony has to leave his Russian girlfriend Irina and asks her what she thinks of the painting hanging up behind the bed. "Nothing, it just reminds me of David Hockey." Another pop culture reference. Tony in his slippers and bathrobe heads over to Satriale's which is where the windowless room is located. Sil is having a Capicola sandwich. Sil is considering castration, Tony saying he promised Sid he wouldn't. "You're a stupid motherfucker you know that?" Tony says. "I've heard it said." Ariel responds. Tony asks "What are you proud of it?" "You kill me and a dark cloud goes over Schlomo's house , either way they'll be no get unless restitution is made." Tony asks "You'd really let me kill you, wouldn't you, you sick fuck?" Ariel asks "You ever heard of the Masada? For two years, 900 Jews held their own against 15,000 Roman soldiers. They chose death before enslavement and the Romans where are they know?" Tony answers "You're looking at em' asshole." While showing ego and bravado this comment is almost ironic with how history is going as well as the flow of the show itself. Yes the Romans might have eventually won, just like here Tony will win this battle. But the end is coming. Either death or imprisonment, and while they might walk tall today that looming dread of inevitability cannot be outrun. Tony is able to come up with a compromise, instead of murder just castration. Ariel agrees to sign for a divorce.
At the Soprano house Carmela is thanking Charmane for her help and Charmane can't help herself lets her know that Tony and her dated each other and they slept together over twenty years ago. That she is fine with her choices even though the restaurant blew up. It's quite obvious that there are some jealousy issues because someone truly at peace doesn't feel the need to one up perceived rivals. Tony is paged by Silvio and he's in he motel hallway talking with Sid Titleman. Silvio tells Tony "This guy is trying to pull some bullshit Tony." Tony asks "Hey ZZ Top, the guy gave you the get didn't he?" Titleman says "But not because of you, you scared him, threatened with castration. But it was business that brought him around. He wanted 50 percent, you wanted 25 percent, so I split the difference. I gave him 15 percent, he gives my daughter the divorce...and it's business, it worked out. Schlomo tries to give Tony a payment for his trouble, but Tony knowing they agreed to 25% wants 25% and tells him that's what he's going to get. "I don't give a shit what he says. Now you listen to me, you want to give your son in law 15% of the motel? You go ahead. It comes out of your end. Now we got you your get you get us our 25%. Got it?" Schlomo upset says "My son was right. You're mud. Godless clay. I created a living Golem." Tony grabbing Titleman by the collar after punching the wall asks "What the fuck is a Golem?" Titleman says "It's a monster, frankenstein!" Tony shoves him away and walks out. Tony visits an under the weather Jackie, the boss of the family is not in good shape. Tony keeps trying to tell him about the humorous episode with Ariel but Jackie is nearly unreachable. So affected by his sickness. Nothing but the sound of machines can be heard. Junior and Livia visit with each other. Junior is looking for advice on the Christopher and Brendon hijacking situation. Livia remarks that Tony always loved Christopher as a son and that so does she that he put up her storm windows one year. Junior says "What do I do, let him and this Filone kid piss on me in public? And how far do I go before I light a freaking match under that hotheaded son of yours?" Livia suggests that Christopher could use a talking to. "The other one Filone....I don't know." Junior remarks "You got a lot of sense for a old gal." Livia despairs "No. I'm a babbling idiot. That's why my son put me in a nursing home."
Tony is back in therapy. "It's like he's already gone......... Somebody called me a frankenstein today. This Hassid I'm doing business with. These Hassids. I mean they're out there, but they got their beliefs. They're not afraid of death. At least this one guy wasn't. " Melfi states "Maybe they have the belief because they are afraid." Tony offers "I'm not afraid of death not if it's for something, you know, war, something like that. A reason. But Jackie, to see this....strong, beautiful man, just wither away to nothing. He can't do nothing about it. You can't fight it." Melfi asks "Do you envy the Hassids and their beliefs?" Tony remarks "All this shit's for nothing? And if all this shit's for nothing why do I have to think about it?" Melfi says "That's the mystery isn't it? The mystery of god or whatever you want to call it and being given the questionable gift of knowing we're going to die. Do you feel like Frankenstein, a thing lacking humanity. Lacking human feelings?" The episode ends with Meadow's chorus concert that Tony arrives to, we cut away to Christopher being taken at gunpoint by two men. They drag him to a pier, threaten to shoot him and leave him there tied up, but alive. It occurs to me for the first time that Meadow and Hunter are both performing their solos on Crystal Meth. Wow. Finally Mikey Palmice shows up to the apartment to shoot Brendon through the eye, with Junior just in the next room, effectively killing him. It does make me wonder that if Chris had never shouted "You can thank Tony Soprano" if it would have annoyed Junior that Comely ended up thanking Tony and made Junior pissed off. Did Christopher set it in motion for Brendon to die circumstantially? I don't know it would just haunt me if I was Christopher. But then you could argue Brendon was dumb enough to go it alone and that it was his own fault anyway. Great writing.
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